ORONO, Maine – The University of Rhode Island snapped UMaine’s 14-game winning streak at their expense a year ago in Kingston, Rhode Island, and the Rams ended a 25-year drought in Orono on Friday night with a 34-17 victory at Morse Field in Alfond Stadium.
The game was moved to Friday night from Saturday afternoon to stay ahead of Hurricane Lee.
The Rams, ranked 20th in the country in one poll and 21st in another, improved to 2-1 overall and 2-0 in the Coastal Athletic Association, while the Black Bears fell to 0-3 and 0-1.
URI had lost the last 10 meetings in Orono dating back to its last win on Oct. 10, 1998.
This time, the URI team scored 10 unanswered points in the second half to transform a 24-17 halftime lead into a comfortable 34-17 lead in the fourth quarter.
The Black Bears’ ineffective offense was held to a measly 57 yards in the second half and gained just 13 yards on 10 plays in the third period.
URI outgained UMaine 440-271 in the game.
Quarterback Kasimm Hill threw a pair of touchdown passes to Kahtero Summers for the Rams and Ja’Den McKenzie and Gabe Sloat added touchdown runs. Ty Groff kicked a pair of field goals.
Freshman running back Tristan Kenan ran for two touchdowns for UMaine and Cody Williams kicked a 37-yard field goal.
URI converted 13 of 18 third downs, while UMaine was just 3-for-11.
McKenzie rushed for 121 yards on 17 carries, Summers caught 6 passes for 130 yards and Hill completed 18 of 32 passes for 234 yards.
Kenan ran for 82 yards on 18 carries, Joe Gillette caught 5 passes for 19 yards, and Derek Robertson completed 20 of 30 passes for 164 yards.
The Black Bears opened the game with a well-orchestrated 12-play, 75-yard drive capped by Kenan’s two-yard run.
URI answered with a 47-yard field goal following a 10-play, 44-yard march.
The Black Bears failed to pick up a first down on their next three possessions and URI took a 10-7 lead with 12:20 left in the second period on a 35-yard pass from Hill to Summers.
A 41-yard punt return by Gabe Sloat set up the go-ahead drive.
The Black Bears took the lead 3:41 later following a Justyn Haynesworth recovery after Latrell Couchman forced a Deon Silas fumble.
Kenan finished off a three-play, 35-yard drive with a 15-yard run.
Kenan was assessed a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for spiking the ball after his TD run and UMaine punted the ball instead of kicking it off and was assessed a five-yard penalty which forced the Black Bears to kick off from their own 15-yard line.
URI took full advantage of a short field, needing just three plays to cover 42 yards with Hill finding Summers for a 37-yard TD pass with 7:26 left in the half.
URI expanded its lead to 24-14 when McKenzie dashed 17 yards to complete an eight-play 56-yard drive with 2:27 left in the half.
The Black Bears were able to cut the lead to seven as a pair of Robertson passes to Montigo Moss covering 23 yards enabled Cody Williams to close out the half with a 37-yard field goal.
